Wildlife
Steeped in Buddhist tradition, Bhutan is a country where hunting and fishing are not part of the customs: here, there's no question of killing an animal. If you want to eat fish, you have to wait for the rivers to overflow during floods and spill their local catch onto the shores! Bhutan's abundant fauna is thus particularly well-preserved, with the species serving primarily as a larder for large predators. The biotope varies according to geographical zone. In the south, the subtropical forests offer a highly prized refuge for Asian elephants, clouded panthers, leopards and Indian rhinoceroses (very rare, they have only one horn), as well as tigers, a particularly protected and revered feline in Bhutan. There are also buffalo, wild boar, gaur and gavials, a species of crocodile that is also threatened. To the north, on the Himalayan plateaus, yaks, takins (Bhutan's national animal, halfway between ox and goat), snow leopards, bharals, wolves and musk deer cohabit with mountain goats and marmots. And in temperate zones, you'll come across red pandas, langurs (from the same family as monkeys), tigers and black bears.
With over 700 species of birds, the Himalayan kingdom is also a bird-watching paradise. Bhutan lies on the route of many migratory birds, including the black-necked crane, typical of the Tibetan plateau and one of the world's most endangered species. More than 300 of these birds hibernate in the central and eastern valleys of the Land of the Thunder Dragon from late October to mid-February. Less well known but just as rare, the Imperial Heron and Pallas's Eagle also cross the country in winter. In summer, cuckoos, swifts, bearded vultures, warblers, bee-eaters, ravens and drongos join the ranks of rare species, including Himalayan vultures, fish eagles, hornbills, woodcocks, Blyth's kingfishers, tragopans satyrs and colorful pheasants.
The flora
With over 7,000 plant varieties, including 300 species of medicinal plants, 50 types of rhododendron and 600 species of orchid, Bhutan's natural environment is particularly lush. Three-quarters of the country is covered in forest, at altitudes of up to 4,500 metres. At lower altitudes, the vegetation has been largely cleared for livestock and agriculture, sculpting landscapes of pastures and rice terraces, while the valleys abound with forests of cypress, oak, birch, maple, magnolia and rhododendron, which in spring are adorned with yellow, pink and red flowers. Look up and you'll see orchids and ferns growing on these green giants! From 2,000 metres upwards, conifers cohabit with Himalayan pines and junipers. As soon as the snow melts, wild flowers make their appearance on the high plateaus: edelweiss, primrose, forget-me-nots, larkspur and Himalayan blue poppy, Bhutan's national flower, whose bluish petals can be seen from May to July.
National parks
A veritable reservoir of oxygen alongside its neighbors China and India, Bhutan boasts one of the world's best-preserved ecosystems. The country's topography, low population density and controlled tourism policy mean that its natural resources remain virtually untouched. Aware of the fragility and richness of this exceptional natural heritage, the authorities have set themselves the goal of maintaining a minimum of 60% forest cover and wooded areas throughout the country. In order to preserve the local culture and traditions of populations living in protected areas, the government has created national parks and nature reserves, which together cover 43% of the territory. The 5 national parks (Royal Manas National Park, Jigme Dorji National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Thrumshingla National Park and Thrumshingla National Park) provide natural habitats for many species of birds and animals, including black bears, snow leopards, tigers, rhinos, elephants, red pandas and golden entelle. The Torsa Nature Reserve, on the border with Tibet, is the only protected area without a human population, while the four sanctuaries (Phibsee, Khaling, Sakteng, Bomdeling) and the Wangchuck Centenary Park are home to animals, birds and forests (conifers, salsas, rhododendrons).
An example to follow
Having made sustainable development the cornerstone of its identity, Bhutan holds the record for minimal impact on the environment. Thanks to its many forests, this small kingdom absorbs three times moreCO2 than it emits. Committed to promoting renewable energies (solar, wind and biomass), the Land of the Thunder Dragon claims to produce 100% of its electricity from its own power plants. It also holds the world record for the number of trees planted per hour (nearly 50,000). In 2016, when the Crown Prince was born, 108,000 seeds were planted across the kingdom. Bhutan was aiming for a strict ban on pesticides by 2020, but in reality only 5% of crops are organic, of which 3% are certified. Nevertheless, pesticide use will be more strictly controlled in 2019. The main challenge facing this forward-thinking country today is to reconcile economic development with environmental protection. Hence the desire to encourage the growth of regulated tourism, by limiting the number of visitors and their ecological impact.
